“Sister Xi, will you please let go of her now?”

Shui Yinzhu chuckled as she saw Xiaoren getting killed by Yun Su. She dropped the dead body of the maid, walked to her bed and lied down. Clearly she was mad at Yun Su. Yun Su asked the servants to clean up the dead body and the blood. As everyone left, he hurriedly got into the bed to hold Shui Yinzhu.

“Are you angry at me, Sister Xi?

“Is that going to be of any use?”

“Yes. But I won’t let you go.”

The man and woman kept cuddling for the rest of the night. Just like she said, no matter Shui Yinzhu was or wasn’t willing to do so, her attitude didn’t matter. Just like neither of them cared for human life.

The cloud went more gloomy in the palace afterwards. Whomever Empress Xi smiled at, either man or woman, would be killed. Even Yun Su’s closest eunuch didn’t survive that smile. Slaughter happened every day inside the palace and everyone was terrified. No one had the courage to have eye contact with Shui Yinzhu. They were all running as far as they could just in case they became the next victim.

The evil empress’s chuckle could be heard everywhere inside the palace. The sound was pleasant and beautiful yet those who heard it would feel spooky and start to tremble. Whenever she started to smile, someone would die.

After this deadly smile game and all her tests, the eunuchs, maids and guards that survived learned one thing-Shui Yinzhu, their empress was more horrible than their emperor. Offend the emperor and you would die. But offend the empress, death would be a good ending.

After that, no one had the courage to spread any rumor about Shui Yinzhu. Even if she flirted with someone in front of all of them, as long as Yun Su wasn’t around, he wouldn’t know. Everyone had their mouth shut.

It was an early winter morning. The weather was cold. Even though there was a brazier in the empress bedchamber, it was still freezing. Shui Yinzhu sat in front of the vanity table. Xiaoxing was the only maid left around her. All the others were either dead, wounded or no longer serving her. Those who stayed would prefer to serve out of her bedchamber.

Shui Yinzhu, the evil empress gazed at Xiaoxing in the bronze mirror. This palace maid looked old, at least ten years older than she should be. Though she was younger than Shui Yinzhu, she looked like an older woman than the innocent-faced empress.

Xiaoxing wasn’t a pretty girl. But she looked gentle and graceful. One wouldn’t be attracted at first sight but she did have a lingering charm, which made her a beauty in the long run. Shui Yinzhu observed her in their recent conversations. This palace maid was clever, it would be proper to call her a considerate and temperate girl.

After several rounds of tests, it turned out that Xiaoxing wouldn’t talk to the “wrong” person, notice the “wrong” thing or hear the “wrong” conversation. More importantly, Shui Yinzhu learned her weakness. After experiencing so much in this world, Shui Yinzhu wouldn’t easily place her trust in anyone. Having something on her would make a much more reliable ally than dumb trust.

“Xiaoxing, the guard in Imperial Garden looks good. I like him.” Shui Yinzhu spoke as she observed Xiaoxing’s expression in the bronze mirror.

“Your Majesty, please forgive him!” Xiaoxing suddenly fell on her knees. Even though she was extremely terrified of Shui Yinzhu, she had to summon her courage for that man.

“Oh, you doesn’t want me to date him. My little maid must be in love.” Shui Yinzhu wasn’t angry but she didn’t give her permission to stand up. She turned around and looked at Xiaoxing on her vanity chair.

“Your Majesty, I’m not. I promise. It’s just...” Xiaoxing was trying to explain. But she had no idea how she was supposed to explain their relationship and she was afraid that any extra word would get both of them killed. However, once the empress started to pay attention to him, the guard would be as good as dead. Without him, life would mean nothing to her.

“I can let the guard off.”

“Your Majesty?”

“Well, I shall change your name to Xiaoxin, as xin stands for trust.”

“Understood, Your Majesty. Thank you for your trust.”

“Yes, I trust you. Can you tell me more about you and the guard, Xiaoxin?” Shui Yinzhu was meant to win her heart as she started the conversation.

“Your Majesty.”

“Call me like a princess when no one is around.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Answer me. I’m really curious. It’s got to be a beautiful love story. I’ll keep you two safe if I’m satisfied.”

“Your highness, the guard is called Anian. We grew up together as friends. When I came here as a palace maid, he signed up to be a guard just to meet me.”

“Puppy love. How beautiful. Xiaoxin, do you wish to marry him?”

“Your M... Your Highness, I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I would like to fulfill your wish. As long as you stay loyal to me in the future, you will be rewarded. I’ll keep you two alive and set you free in the future so that you’ll be able to live a prosperous life together.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you.”

Xiaoxing, no, Xiaoxin never expected that Shui Yinzhu would choose not to kill them but to get them married instead. What she would never know was that Shui Yinzhu set her up just so she would take the bait and beg for mercy on Anian’s life.

“Hold on. If you are to be found betraying on me, no matter on what trivial, I’ll make sure you both suffer.”

“Understood, Your Highness. I will serve you well.”

“I don’t need your service. I need your loyalty. Remember, I won’t tolerate a grain of sand in my eyes.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Xiaoxin, tell all my maids and eunuchs to meet me in the hall.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

After the slaughter, the removal of personnel and threatening for so many days, Shui Yinzhu had finally cleared up all the spies around her. She no longer had to be alert of everyone like she used to be. Even though she would stay cautious, she could do what she wanted. More sophisticated conspiracies would come out. As the evil empress cleared up the harem, she could finally carry out her real plan.

“From now on, Xiaoxin will be my chief servant girl and you should all answer to her command.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Shui Yinzhu announced Xiaoxin’s appointment in the hall of her bedchamber. Now that she favored this little girl, she would grant her as much power as possible. At that very moment, no one had the courage to sow discord or snitch against Empress Xi since everyone feared her. “As for what conversation I had or whatever happened here in this palace, even if it was the drop of a needle, whoever discussed it improperly would be ‘well’ treated personally by me.”

“We will not.” The servants all kneeled to the ground.

“Up on your feet.” Shui Yinzhu helped Xiaoxin stand, “Xiaoxin, send them all out. Come in when I call you.”

“Understood.” Xiaoxin felt most complicated at that moment. She had more other emotions than just fear compared to all the other people. Maybe she wouldn’t help Shui Yinzhu wholeheartedly at that time, but she was tempted by the possible future of her and Anian. After Shui Yinzhu granted her power, her desire was satisfied and she began to take a side on her.

She led the maids and eunuchs out. She would behave well since it was the first day for her to be their leader. Xiaoxin was about 16 years old, but her mind, just like her appearance, was much more mature than her age. She understood her job and knew her place. Shui Yinzhu wouldn’t admire her if she was a daft goose.

As Shui Yinzhu was all by herself inside the hall, she called for Xiaoba. But clearly Xiaoba didn’t want to respond as he didn’t show up. Would she run out of her methods then? That wouldn’t be our evil empress.

“Xiaoba, stop it. Why are you taking off my clothes? What are you doing? Xiaoba, no, Xiaoba... I’m not ready. You feel so hot! Hmm, ahh, ahh, that hurts. You are so rude. Hmm. I’m hot. I’m so hot...” Clearly, Shui Yinzhu was the director of that adult show. But that only sounded real.

To make things worse, the woman in red slowly moved towards the gate. If she got there, everyone outside would hear her. Even if no one had the courage to tell His Majesty, there was still a chance that Yun Su could know it. At that time, there would be no way for Xiaoba to clear his name.

After Shui Yinzhu moved a few steps, Xiaoba showed up and covered her mouth from behind. The man was angry but couldn’t express it at all.

“Your Majesty, what are you doing?”

Shui Yinzhu threw herself into his arms. Xiaoba, however, jumped back immediately. Shui Yinzhu smiled at the blushing and shy guard. There was a bit innocence added to her charm but that only made her more seductive.

“Xiaoba, whenever I call your name, you should come. You know what I mean?” As Xiaoba stayed silent, Shui Yinzhu took a step closer. But Xiaoba stepped back again. She took another step forward and Xiaoba still kept the distance. “Xiaoba, take another step back and I’ll tell our story to everyone.”

That stopped Xiaoba. He had no idea what to do. When did he offend this evil empress? He wasn’t supposed to like her, but why would he sense some vague happiness in the deepest part of his heart? He responded with the standard answer, “Your Majesty, men and women are not supposed to have physical contact. I’m not clever enough to understand how I offended you. Please forgive me.”

“Hmm, let me think about it!” Shui Yinzhu stopped getting closer. She looked at Xiaoba and said “Stop calling me “Your Majesty:. Call me like a princess.”

“Huh?” As he saw Shui Yinzhu’s hand getting closer to his face, he immediately said “Your Highness.” But somehow, he was a bit disappointed.

His reaction could barely be observed as only his eyes flickered. But the empress had been so experienced with men that she could easily tell what was going on in his mind. Xiaoba was trained to be a confidential guard in childhood. He was so immature that he couldn’t tell the loss of his heart.

Shui Yinzhu started to think of a plan, but she didn’t show it in her eyes. Now that Xiaoba had fallen in love with her, she didn’t have to get any closer to him. Keeping the distance would help Xiaoba take his love deeper into his heart.

“Xiaoba, no matter what happens to me in the future, do not report it to Yun Su. I’ll give you a story to tell.”

“Your M... Your Highness, but His Majesty said...”

“I know Yun Su sent you to spy on me. You may keep doing your job if you want me dead.”

“How would that happen, Your Highness?”

“Xiaoba, you started to watch me when I came back to the palace, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you see what happened to me? You were part of Xuan Zhi’s got caught and Wu Chen’s death.”